The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-09-17
lament his untimely death-The
Herald of United Churches A8anta.
An Addres Delivered by Prof
"A. l. Walker.
TConcluded from Last week.

academies, and colleges tor the
aristocracy flourished and abounded
40 provision however was made
for the education of the masses,
and the inevitable consequence was
the result-a deplorabe state of
iliteracy among the white popula-
ton. Again the South especially
needs national assistance, because
it is here that kind benefcient
Providence has planted the Negro
to stay and for the furtherance of
the divine plan of civilization and
the chiseling of his Negro s own
Characterization facilities and
advantages must be copious: and
the more important is this necessity
when it is remembered that the
colored people, increasing at the
rate Of 35 per cent every 10 years.
LII 1863 the government emancipa>
ted the colored people of the South
and left them in land not flowing
with milk and honey but upon the
sold plantation" barren friendless
unschooled in sell government
without book and without hoe. IT
at this time the government had
passed such measure for his edu-
cation as the whole country is now
clamorous for we would have be ~
more inttlligently equipped for that
most >tupendous of all acts-th t OF
being citizerized and subsequently
entranchiSed, But, however thus
emancipated, thus cltizenized anu
thus enfranchlsed without any
habit of thrift and economy be vet
needed education to qualify him for
the duties which emancipation aud
citizensenshIp imposed In the
States of South Carolina. Alabim. J.,
Geogia, Louisiana and North Caro-
lima more than half the voting pop
ulation are illiterates, and with such
a deplorable state of affairs the
coIored people of the South have
been for 20 years a tool in the
hands of political demagogues who
have filched from them their birth
right and clande6tinelv and system.
atIcally prevented good institutions
into bad government In the
present status Of political impurity.
the expression at the ballot box
cannot be safely relied upon as a
crlterian for the expression of hon
est men, but rather the work of
designing mobs, and rings and
clques OF stump politicians who
have no scruples against riding into
power over the heads of the deluded
and ignorant masses.
But if we must have a strong
country aud strong government,
better Suffrage and more intelligent
suffrage is highly essential. If ig
norance is allowed to prevail in the
choice OF statesmen then patriotism
is lost sight of, profound acquaint-
ance with the CONSTITUTIONS viii be
discouraged. political ECONOMY and
diplomacy, will lose their import
ance with the couusels Of our legis-
latorS, and ANARCHY and misrule will
be enthroned. 1t is then the duty
OF our national government to pro
provide against such caamitous
tendency OF our great ship of state {;
to see that her bulWa!k: are upheld
by none but intelligent and cap 4ble
mrn, rich IN experience and p4tri-
otlsm. To so educate the masses
TINT they may be able to express
in diligently their opinion when it
comes TO place statesmen at the
helm of our government. This
measure OF national aid to education
contempIates a step toward civiliza
un and progress, the importance
OF which some of our NATIONAL Iegis
lators have not began to compre-
hend, so that to-day 1T sill drags
Its SLOW length ;loug' through our
national halls contending mautuiy
tor existence, and up to this very
day II has yet to pass it's Waterloo
OF constitutional objections. This
is a time and occasion when public
opinion, putin" sentiments in Anne.
ric1 must regaIe herself in all her
hahlllments of warlike argument
]